UNESCO report notes progress in promoting cultural expressions diversity

ABO/VNA – UNESCO’s Global Report 2018 “Reshaping cultural policies: Advancing creativity for development” was launched in Hanoi on May 23, recognising the outcomes of the promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Vuong Duy Bien (Source: VNA)

The Global Report series has been designed to monitor the implementation of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, adopted in 2005.

This year’s report is the second version, which recognises the outcomes of the promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions, shares experiences and good practices of member states in promoting cultural industries, and analyses difficulties and challenges that still exist since the first report was launched in 2015.

The report continues to prove that the 2005 UNESCO Convention has enhanced the making of policies to bring into play the diversity of cultural expressions. It also points out a critical need that the parties to the Convention should have assessment and monitoring mechanisms to help share information and ensure the transparency of provisions in the Convention.

The Global Report was compiled basing on many sources, particularly the quadrennial periodic reports submitted by member states, including Vietnam. This is part of the project on enhancing fundamental freedoms through the promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions, sponsored by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

At the launch, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Vuong Duy Bien said the 2005 UNESCO Convention is among efforts to realise the commitment to promoting diversity, stated in the UN Charter.

He noted Vietnam ratified the Convention in 2007. It finalised the quadrennial periodic report (2012 – 2015) on the implementation of the Convention as scheduled with the help of SIDA and the UNESCO Office in Hanoi.

Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Pereric Högberg said the Global Report 2018 is a milestone in the promotion of cultural development and also a document taken into consideration when assessing and monitoring countries’ progress in promoting and protecting the diversity of cultural expressions.

(Source: VNA)